Violence is not remedied simply by having more police, gun control and curfews. Cities with fewer gun control laws and police presence actually end up having lower crime rates. This is not to say that lowering gun control and police presence will also lower crime rates, but people will kill either way with whatever they can find.

People's hearts and minds must be made over. Violence should never be thought of as a solution to problems. We must show youths that there are other ways out. I cannot tell you how many kids I have seen not caring about school and preferring to be there in these streets because it seems to be their only option.

We need to give teens ways to not only be successful later, but now as well. We need to show them that working hard now and making that "investment" is worth it.

Youth should be given a place in today's society, not just as kids who go to school then graduate and suddenly life begins. Give them year-round opportunities that are both fun and rewarding. Instead of attempting to take youths off the street, put them there with a purpose.

We need to look for new ways of fighting this problem instead of recycling ineffective strategies that have failed. Otherwise we are a broken record with an accident waiting to happen.

Reading your paper lately has become quite depressing. Perhaps you could start publishing a front-page table showing the number of people shot to death each day, plus the number of heroin overdose deaths and the number of infants delivered in the city's hospitals.

Everyone is wondering why the increase in crime in Charm City since the riots ("Monday shooting victim is Baltimore's 36th May homicide," May 27). The reason for the violence is quite simple. It can be directly attributed to the Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's indecision in a time of crisis. It...

The astronomical increase in shootings and homicides in Baltimore is easy to explain. The criminal element is now in charge — no more police to hassle them and take their guns. They feel protected by the powers that be, and they are. They are shooting and killing each other because they are angry?...

"Black lives matter!" was the chant heard at recent demonstrations in cities and towns from Ferguson, Mo., to Baltimore. Yes, they do matter, but apparently not so much to some other blacks. Only when a white police officer shoots or engages in other behavior that results in the death of a black...